Preview: West Indies v New Zealand, T20I series

New Zealand achieved a historic 2-1 series victory over West Indies in the recently concluded Test series and the visitors will be keen to extend their good run in the back-to-back T20I matches at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica. Meanwhile, the hosts will be looking to come back hard and salvage some pride by winning the Twenty20 games.

West Indies:

Darren Sammy is back to lead the T20I side while Sunil Narine is also in the line-up, after missing the Test series (the spinner was left out of the Test squad as he did not turn up for a preparatory camp, choosing to play in the Indian Premier League instead). West Indies will be missing the services of Dwayne Bravo, who has not yet recovered from a knee injury, and Chris Gayle, who has been rested for this series. However, the return of Kieron Pollard is a big boost for the West Indies team.

Despite the absence of some key players, West Indies have a solid batting line-up. Dwayne Smith and Lendl Simmons, who did well in the IPL, will be eager to extend their good form. In Andre Fletcher, Darren Bravo, Pollard, Sammy and Denesh Ramdin, the hosts also have a strong middle order. West Indies also have a balanced bowling attack. In Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell, Krishmar Santokie, Narine and Samuel Badree, Windies have plenty of options while Sammy and Pollard too can contribute with the ball.

New Zealand:

With 413 runs at an average of 82.6, Kane Williamson was arguably the best batsman amongst both teams in the three-Test series. The New Zealand No. 3 batsman, long mentioned as one of the best Black Caps talent to emerge in recent years, now has his eyes set on the shorter format of the game. The right handed batsman, who is likely to open with all-rounder, James Neesham in the two matches, said he wanted to finish off the tour on a high.

Skipper Brendon McCullum did not quite fire in the Test series and he will be hoping that the change in the format can also help him get back to his run-scoring ways. Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi are key members in the middle order and New Zealand will be expecting solid contributions from them. Along with all-rounders Anderson and Neesham, New Zealand also have Tim Southee and Trent Boult handling the seam-bowling duties. The talented leg-spinner Ish Sodhi is likely to make his debut today while Mark Craig is likely to be the second spinner in the line-up.

Numbers:

4: The number of dismissals Denesh Ramdin needs to take his tally in T20Is to 50. If he gets to that mark, he will become only the second keeper after Kamran Akmal with 50 of more dismissals in the 20-over format.

2044: The number of runs Brendon McCullum has scored in T20Is till date. He is comfortably perched on top of the list of highest run-getters in T20Is while has has also scored the most fifties and hundreds.

Quotes:

The key component is probably to be as relaxed as possible because it's a very intense game and batsmen are always coming at you: Sunil Narine.

A change in format obviously means an up in tempo and you're training and preparation obviously goes according to those focuses: Kane Williamson.

Ganguly outlined the need to have more than two practice games in Australia come December before embarking on the four Test series and stated what Jadeja needs to do if he wants to improve as a Test player. Excerpts from a freewheeling conversation with Boria Majumdar: